A Heart Like My Own
Chapter 3: A New Consideration
The ride was silent, with the only exception of outdoor noises. Crickets played beautiful nighttime melodies that fireflies danced to; tall grasses and trees swayed by the wind's warm breath.
Naiona thought as she rode with D about her future, something that she rarely cared about. She knew she was a slayer, cursed by birth and that was her only mission: to slay vampires that fought and killed without a cause.
Why did her parents have to conceive her? It wasn't fair to be labeled a dun peal. It certainly wasn't fun.
The blue haired woman dropped her head in an almost sleepy manner.
"You need sleep," D whispered, moving the sword that was strapped to her back a little to make her more comfortable.
Naiona realized that she hadn't moved since the stop at the cemetery—and her back was threatening to bend just a little.
"I'll be fine," she replied coolly, making her back straighten more.
Was that a defeated sigh she heard behind her? Or was it just her imagination that D was disappointed?
~@~
A clearing came into D's vision, making him tap lightly on Naiona's shoulder. She muttered something and yawned, giving him the impression that she had in fact fallen asleep after her last denial.
He looked over her head to get a better look, which wasn't difficult, being that the top of her head came to his chin while riding and a little below the base of his shoulders when standing. Despite her small size, he concluded, she had the attitude to make up for it. Ten fold.
"Let's stay here," she said, looking around the glade. "It looks safe enough."
The moon was full and shining brightly—very brightly. The light touched everything and made it glow in pure white light. The woods offered protection from vampire killers—who were much different than hunters—and gave them security of privacy. Not that they needed any…
When D turned to look at her, Naiona had dismounted and moved to the base of a large tree, whose roots reached up out of the ground. She saw a patch of moss that looked comfortable to sleep on, so she took off her cloak and made a natural mattress for herself. There were only a few hours before sunrise, and she still wanted her rest, even if she shouldn't have wanted it.
D leaned against a tall oak that faced hers and placed his sword beside him. He watched the woman lay down and begin to fall asleep when he decided to take a walk and clear his head. He had to get away from her, if only for a while.
Sunrise. That's what he waited for. That's when they could get out of these woods, and fast.
~@~
"D?"
"What do you want?" he asked, splashing his face with cool water in a spring that he found just inside the woods.
"You like her, don't you?"
He didn't respond. Right now was not the time he wanted to talk about his personal life to his hand.
"C'mon, admit it! You know you do. Her long, star-kissed hair makes you want to tangle your fingers into it, doesn't it? Her pale skin, you just want to caress it. Those lips… you'd do anything to taste them, wouldn't you? And that neck…"
That's not like. It's lust. "For a parasite, you sure do live up to the name."
The hand didn't pay attention. He wanted to get D angry, more because no one could get him angry.
"Don't think you can't fall in love, D. Just look at her," he said as they neared her sleeping body. "She's immortal, too, remember? She. Can't. Die. You two can live together forever, without worrying about getting old or ending up like Leila did." Lefty sighed. "You have another dun peal ten feet away from you—possibly the only other on the planet—and you're questioning yourself?"
"I'll clap," D threatened, his hands poised for the action. He thought her could never love again, even if the woman was immortal. Leila made him sensitive to the feeling and he realized he never wanted it again.
Maybe.
~@~
An ear-piercing howl woke Naiona from her light slumber. She heard D moving around and dared to open her eyes.
Black and brown wolves surrounded the glade, their yellow and green eyes glaring at D and Naiona. Humans—even halflings—had entered their territory before and they weren't happy.
The last time the race of humans came, the wolves were driven out of their homes, into cages that later their ancestors broke free from, destroying all their captors. They slaughtered those who weren't their captors as well, which made them inferior in their gods' eyes, who banished them in these woods forever.
The beasts came closer, growling and gnashing their teeth. One of the members of the pack lashed out, teeth bearing. The head of the clan snarled at him, making him retreat to the back with his tail between his legs.
They were only a few feet from D and Naiona, white foam and glazed eyes fixed on them.
Naiona reacted, pulling from her cloak a silver-bullet, seven-caliber gun. She aimed it at the closest wolf to the leader and fired, watching as the bullet passed through his skull and passed through to the other side, skinning the fur off the leader. It howled in pain while the shot wolf collapsed, the silver making its way through the wolf's system and making it fall on top of the other wolf, infected by a deadly metal.
D stood and watched, his sword drawn in front of him. The wolves began to sink back, away from the two hunters.
Suddenly, a high-pitched scream echoed through the forest, but sounded chillingly close. The wolves back away farther and looked up and around them for the source of the scream, their yellow and green eyes mirrored in fear.
A wolf, different from the others with its white fur and gold eyes, jumped into the glade in front of Naiona and D, its size outnumbering the others. Its lip curled up, revealing pearly white canines and an angry snarl.
The others stood their ground for a few moments, but soon realized that they couldn't defeat the large white wolf. They left, occasionally turning around to look back, their heads hanging low.
Once they were out of sight, the wolf turned to face a gun-laden Naiona. The wolf's gold eyes widened; a smirk lay on its muzzle.
The wolf howled, changing into a laughing young woman. Her flowing white hair cascaded down her back to her calves, a loose dress of white silk fell around her shoulders, creating the illusion of a light goddess.
Her laughter carried through the trees and seemed to echo for miles.
"Please put that contraption away. I shan't want anyone to fall ill." Naiona was struck by her voice, which seemed as quiet as a whisper, but she could hear it very clearly. She put the gun away, slowly.
A delicate hand pushed some of the white hair from her face, her mouth open and smiling.
"Welcome to my glade. Haven't any fear—I shan't harm thee. They call me the Lady of Light. Thee shall come to find that I bring peace and justice to those who come here."
D watched, somewhat stunned by the beauty of the woman. Yet he continued to listen, keeping one eye on her and one of Naiona.
"Here, dear child," she said taking a silver ring from one of her delicate fingers. "It has caused me discomfort for years, but I had not found the right one to wear it. Please take it as a gift; use it as an amulet, and when in undesirable circumstances, call on me."
Naiona fought the urge to roll her eyes. How could this skinny woman of peace possibly do any damage in a fight?
"Do not misjudge me, girl!" the lady yelled, the leaves on trees rustled violently to the very tone of her voice. "I am the mage Agélus, and I have very powerful majik." The ring that was settled in her hand rose into the air, turning in a small circle. It melted and shifted until it made the shape of a wolf, then glowed a fiery red. It stopped spinning, but came towards Naiona, steam rising off the hot metal.
It pressed against the inside of her wrist and she screamed in pain. The searing pain became unbearable pleasure as the metal was no longer heat, but the desire to feed, which she hadn't done since she bit her…
Another scream rose from her throat, this time low and sob-like. D came to her, watching the metal sink into her skin. The spot bled around the metal, making him want to taste her. He glared up at Agélus.
"What was the purpose of this?" he said between clenched teeth, his hand rested on the scabbard of his sword.
"To you, this looks painful. To her, it is pleasurable. I
must leave you now." Agélus' golden eyes looked down upon D. "If she is ever in
need of my majik, tell her to burn the marking. I will come to her."
The woman tucked a piece of hair behind her canine ear, closing her beautiful eyes. She said a phrase of ancient language that sounded elfish to D, and disappeared into the light of dawn.
"D…" Naiona whispered, her injured wrist over her eyes to hide the sunlight. "I feel so weak."
He knew what this meant. Carefully placing her on his shoulder, D picked up their belongings and put them on his horse, pulling them deeper into the forest.
"It's time to feed," he told her quietly.
~@~
A/n: Next chapter is my favorite, everyone! I like to hear your comments and questions, so press that little blue button, okay? ^.^